Multi user oral cleansing device, DentalJet

ABSTRACT

This invention creates a convenient low cost water pressure driven multi user oral cleansing device, the DentalJet with exchangeable color coded nozzle/handle which is easy to use, uses no electricity. The invention uses a faucet attachable rotating diverter, a flexible food grade pressure fitted PVC tube, interchangeable hose assembly, and the color coded exchangeable jet nozzle/handle. The faucet attachable single handle diverter also functions as a fine water volume/pressure control with a preset temperature and filter. It provides a new and convenient way to exchange nozzles for the different family members by using a pressurized flexible hose adapter. Water pressure bulges up the flexible rubber tube clamped to the adaptor and to the PVC tubing inside the handle, friction keeps the hose adapter in solid coupling while the pressure is on, color coded nozzle/handle is exchangeable when water pressure is removed. The footprint of this DentalJet is very small, it attaches to the diverter, needs no extra counter space which is very important in especially small bathrooms.

[0001] References in U.S. patent Documents 3,578,884 May 18, 1971Jacobson 3,593,707 Jul. 20, 1968 Pifer 3,690,314 Sep. 12, 1972 Trupp etal 3,973,558 Aug. 10, 1976 Stouffer et al 4,135,501 Jan. 23, 1979Leunissan 4,265,229 May 5, 1981 Rice at al 4,793,331 Dec. 27, 1988Stewart 4,941,459 Jul. 17, 1990 Sandip Mathur 4,942,870 Jul. 24, 1990Damien 5,095,893 Mar. 17, 1992 Rawden Jr. 5,220,914 Jun. 22, 1993Thompson 5,231,978 Aug. 3, 1993 Kao et al 5,385,533 Jan. 31, 1995Coviello 5,387,182 February 1995 Otani 5,772,616 Jun. 30, 1998Competiello

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] This invention generally relates to the field of Dental hygienein particularly to the ways and means of removing, washing out foodparticles from oral cavity, from under bridge works, around crowns,plaque from teeth, massaging gums in a user friendly, inexpensive way.This DentalJet is also useful of cleaning dentures, or even jewelry withstrong jet flow setting. US patent classification is 128/66,International classification is A61H 9/00.

[0004] Most of the attention has been given to the care and preservationof the teeth and gums, and to various types of apparatus employing a jetof water for cleaning the teeth and massaging the gums. Such apparatusare old and well known in the arts and are generally characterized asbeing structurally complex, most are expensive to manufacture, some arebig and bulky, unsightly or inconvenient to use.

[0005] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0006] This multi user oral cleansing invention overcomes some of theseshortcomings of the prior arts and or creates a new way to maintainexcellent oral hygiene at low cost at the most convenient way. U.S. Pat.No. 3,593,707 Jul. 20, 1968 Pifer shows a Jet tooth brush combination,uses faucet valves as a main water flow and temperature control, usestoo many parts, brush/jet tip is too cumbersome for easy manufacturing,to the best of my knowledge it never made it to public. U.S. Pat. No.3,690,314 Trupp et al uses special diverter/impeller to create pulsatingwater jet for oral cleaning with a non detachable nozzle for some reasonit is not on the market.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,558 Stouffer et al uses and oscillating jettip, nozzle/handle seems too long to be for practical use. U.S. Pat. No.4,135,501 Leunissan uses a gripping adapter to the faucet, in most casesit would slip off from the water pressure, or it is just not adaptableto most types of faucets.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,229 Rice at al. describes a simple usabledevice for shower connection.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,331 Stewart uses a shower type diverterdriven dental jet, very similar to the Rice invention. U.S. Pat. No.4,941,459 Sandip Mathur uses a slip on type adapter looks veryindustrial, crude design, seems it never made it to the market place forthis reason. U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,870 Damien looks bulky and may beimpractical for daily use, not being marketed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,893Rawden Jr. seems to be a low cost oral cleaning device, diverter is apull type, once activated water pressure keeps diverter in divertedposition, only water pressure control is the main faucet valve, nosecondary fine pressure adjustment is available but it employs areplaceable jet and pulsating impeller. U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,914Thompson's water/antiseptic mixer, installed to the shower head or tocold water line. U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,978 Kao et al uses too many parts,faucet adaptation looks very impractical. U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,533Coviello uses a quick disconnect, with main faucet valve as a sole flowcontrol. U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,182 Otani uses snap on coupling which needsto be removed every time for regular faucet use, less than convenient.U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,616 Competiello's leak proof claim with his faucetattachment is next to impossible to achieve with most of today'sfaucets.

[0010] Several powered and non powered dental cleaning devices have beeninvented, the only dental jet widely marketed is a powered multi nozzleTeledyne's Waterpik system and next to nothing on the non poweredversion, for most part being impractical, inconvenient or cumbersome indesign. My present invention contains none of the disadvantages of theprior art. Through its simplicity of design and lack of moving parts orelectricity, safety and convenience are increased, while noise, cost andmaintenance is reduced.

BRIEF SUMMERY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The object of this invention is to create a new multi user waterpressure driven oral cleansing device, DentalJet with exchangeablenozzle/handle which is easy to use, uses no electricity, easy andinexpensive to manufacture, therefore inexpensive at the retail level.

[0012] This invention creates a more convenient way to maintain dentalhygiene just by rotating a diverter, it turns a faucet into aninexhaustible water source for the DentalJet. It can be manufacturedwith few components, easy to maintain, uses domestic water supply underpressure filter in the diverter to prevent any jet-tip clogging,rotating diverter also works as a fine water volume control with presetwater temperature.

[0013] The object of this invention is to provide a new and convenientway to exchange nozzles for the different family members by using apressurized flexible hose adapter with an expendable rubber tubinginside the handle. Water flows under the flexible tubing, expending it,than water leaves at the jet-tip as tubing deflates, pressure builds upagain expanding it, creating a pulsating jet stream and the bulged-upexpended adapter keeps the adapter water tight inside the handle.

[0014] Color coded jet-tip/handle can be replaced when water pressure isremoved by turning the diverter in the regular straight direction,deflated rubber tubing allows an easy exchange by sliding the“interchangeable hose assembly” in and out.

[0015] The footprint of this DentalJet is very small, the handle holderis attached to the diverter, needs no extra counter space which is veryimportant in small bathrooms, needs no electricity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 of shows a typical faucet spout 1A, 1B and 1C is a specialfilter/washer (29) with a fine plastic filtering mash on top and bottomwith felt in the center, 2A shows a basic prior art diverter (2) with aDentalJet holder (3) on the side, 2B the DentalJet holder.

[0017]FIG. 3 shows the DentalJet diverter in normal position withcompression fitting and tube with DentalJet holder (3).

[0018]FIG. 4 shows the interchangeable hose assembly, a flexible PVCtube (10) tightly fits on the stainless steel barbed connector (14) heldtogether with single clamp (18). On one end the expendable rubber hose(16) on the other end, water under pressure enters at (19), exits at(20) and under flexible rubber hose (16) trough hole (15). Rubber tubing(16) expands and collapses based on water flow volume, creating apulsating effect and keeps the hose assembly inside the handle (13) asit bulges up.

[0019]FIG. 5 shows the “interchangeable hose assembly” with a singlewide clamp (26) under water pressure, flexible rubber tube (16) is inthe inflated position.

[0020]FIG. 6 shows the hose assembly in the inflated position inside thehandle (13), inside diameter of handle is enlarged (17) to accommodatethe inflated rubber hose to keep the assembly inside the handle (13).

[0021]FIG. 7 shows the side view of the DentalJet with dual singleclamps

[0022]FIG. 8 side view shows the hose assembly inside a closable hosingby cap (27)

[0023]FIG. 9 shows the rubber hose end with two clamps providing themaximum positioning inside the handle, but no pulsating effect. Jetoutlet (20) is a reduced diameter flow limiter.

[0024]FIG. 10 same as FIG. 6 with whole nozzle (11) with maximumpulsating effect, since all the water is passing inside the flexiblerubber tube (16).

[0025]FIG. 11 shows the side view of the case (13) and tip (11) as asealed unit

[0026]FIG. 12 shows the stainless steel barbed adapter (14) moldedinside the PVC tip (11) for a single user.

[0027]FIG. 13 shows a replaceable threaded nozzle (39) with pulsatingadapter assembly/handle.

[0028]FIG. 14 the replaceable nozzle (36) with an exterior threading, itmates with the female threading of the handle as they areinterchangeable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Sheet 1 FIG. 1A shows a typical faucet spout (1) with threading(21), DentalJet (13) in the holder (3), 1B and 1C is a specialfilter/washer (23) with rubber vulcanized to the fine plastic filteringmash on top and on the bottom (30) with felt in the center (29) for fineparticle filtering to prevent clogging up the DentalJet (13) as animprovement over prior arts.

[0030]FIG. 2A shows the diverter (2) in diverted mode supplying watervia filter (30), center of diverter (32) via rotating diverter drum (39)compression type connector (5), (25), threading (4), normal flow existstrough regular aerator (6) from faucet (1). Diverter is attached to theend of the faucet by captive, rotating nut (24) with inside threading(21) a DentalJet holder (3) on the side, 2B shows the DentalJet holder(3) made of plastic, preferably PVC or vinyl, it has two oval holes (33)on the side, plastic cable tie (31) is threaded trough and around thediverter above the diverter knob (7) to keep the DentalJet (13) in asecure position if not in use.

[0031]FIG. 3 shows the diverter (2) in normal mode with flexible PVCtube (10) which is fed trough compressure nut (8) in the center hole (9)over the sleeve (5) to provide a water tight connection when nut (8) istightened, flex tube is about 20-25″ long, the other end is theinterchangeable hose assembly (FIGS. 4, 5, 6). Diverter knob (7) inpartial diversion acts as a fine volume/pressure control, and it is animprovement over prior arts as it adjusts water pressure veryconveniently with one hand with pre-selected without changing watertemperature.

[0032] Sheet 2 FIG. 4 shows the other end of the flexible PVC hose (10)capable for compression and water tight barbed fitting at theinterchangeable hose assembly, as it is tightly fitted on the stainlesssteel barbed connector (14) at least one inch in length. The other endof the adaptor has a flexible, expandable rubber tube (16) over thebarbing area A to B attached with single clamp (18). Water flows fromPVC hose (10) trough the adapter (14) intake center opening (19),smaller diameter to the front end (20) also functions as a volumelimiter.

[0033] The front end of the brass-barbed adapter is drilled trough atlocation (15) to channel the water under the flexible rubber hose (16).As the water flows under pressure trough opening (15) it bulges up therubber tube (FIGS. 4, 5, 6) and presses against the inner wall of theDentalJet (13) at location FIG. 6 (17) to keep the hose tip assemblysolidly inside the handle (13).

[0034] The adapter is also referred to as “the interchangeable hoseassembly”.

[0035] Front end of adapter (14) has some “play” inside the handle toallow some water to pass trough between the barbing and the rubber hose.Bulged up tube releases some water on the front when pressure is builtup, partially deflates as water exist, than bulges up again, providingan oscillating, pulsating water flow effect as the water flows into thejet tip (11), sealed or glued together with the handle.

[0036] On FIGS. 5 and 6 the clamp (26) is dual wide for extra hoseclamping ability.

[0037] Sheet 3 FIG. 7 shows the complete interchangeable nozzle/handleassembly with the adapter hose assembly inserted.

[0038]FIG. 8 is a preferred configuration for a single user, where thehandle is threaded at the end (21) and closable by cap (27).

[0039]FIG. 9 shows a non pulsating interchangeable hose adapter endwhere the expandable rubber tube (16) is clamped at both end by clamps(18 and 26), providing the maximum friction to hold the hose adapterinside the handle (13) as water pressure bulges up the tube trough hole(15).

[0040]FIG. 10 provides the maximum pulsating effect, all water passesunder the flexible rubber hose (16) than to the nozzle (11). Handleinside diameter at (28) allows the water to pass trough.

[0041]FIG. 11 shows the integrated nozzle/handle (11,13) nozzle (12)without the hose tip assembly.

[0042]FIG. 12 shows a single user DentalJet assembly where one end ofthe brass or stainless steel adapter (14) is molded into the jet tip(11), PVC hose (10) is barbed fitted, case is closable by threaded cap(25).

[0043] Sheet 5 of FIG. 13 shows an interchangeable handle 13A with malethreading at the front end (37) with an interchangeable nozzle assembly(39), nozzle (12) and inside threaded connecting end (38) capable to beattached to the handle with means of threading.

[0044]FIG. 14 shows an interchangeable handle (13B) with aninterchangeable nozzle adapter (36), where nozzle adapter has malethreading at the end mating with the inside threading (41) of the (13B)handle, flat rubber washer (34) keeps tight water proof coupling.

[0045] In respect, after explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting. It is important, therefore, that the claims beregarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they donot depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

What I claim as my invention is a multi user oral cleansing device,DentalJet comprising of:
 1. A diverter capable to be connected to afaucet by means of threaded captive nut with a cylindrical rotatingmechanism able to turn 90 degree to adjust water flow between normal anddiverted direction and in partial diversion functions as a volumecontrol; a. a diverter having a cleanable, reusable washer/filter insertto filter out any sediments to block water flow trough the narrowDentalJet nozzle opening having two fine plastic screens vulcanized intothe rubber washer at the perimeter and has a fine filter felt betweenthe two screens; b. a diverter capable for water tight compressionfitting with a flexible PVC hose or similar under normal household waterpressure as means of conducting water from the diverter to the nozzle.2. A barbed adapter made of brass, stainless metal or strong plasticcapable to provide water tight connection at the input of the adapter,also called “the interchangeable hose assembly”; a. short flexible,expandable approximately 1″ length rubber tube fitted on the nozzle sideof the adapter and clamped onto it at the center capable to be insertedinto the handle without water pressure as part of the “theinterchangeable hose assembly” as mentioned before, extractable withoutwater pressure allowing color coded handle/jet assembly exchange forother users; b. said adapter having a hole longitudinally in the center,narrower at the end where water exist functioning as a volume/pressurelimiter; c. same adapter having a diagonal hole across it in under theaforementioned rubber tube causing it to bulge up under water pressureproviding firm water tight fit inside the DentalJet's handle; d. thisrubber hose as mentioned in 2 a, 2 c bulges up with water pressure,releases water around the front end of the adapter towards the nozzle asit deflates partially than pressure bulges up the rubber tube again, andit gets partially deflated, this repeated cycle creates a pulsating jetstream; e. single user version has the, metal barbed adapter moldedinside the nozzle tip